Peace and Quiet
Ron Hawkins and The Do Good Assassins Lyrics
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I saw your ghost in Kensington
The sly sentry of the alleyway
A wounded soldier from the bad old days
And it took me somewhere
I haven't been for years and years
Old appetites like souvenirs
I turned around, you disappeared
A sweet peace and quiet
The lights never go down
A thousand shooting stars in Chinatown
Reflected in your eyes electric-blue
A kiss lingers like a deja-vu
But all the lovers crash
And echo under the overpass
They lie pinned beneath their memories
A million colliding destinies
Stain the street, pierce the silence
The sweet peace and quiet
We cursed a dishrag sky
We vowed to change the weather
You donned your widest eyes
I said never say never
And even though we lied
We swore we'd stay this way forever
Is it funny how
You seem just like a rumour now?
A conversation that I overheard
The frail echo of a foreign word
Is it funny or sad?
Sometimes we just walk away
No bittersweet remembrance day
Why do you think that we do that?
To defeat peace and quiet?
To cheat peace and quiet?
The sweet (you don your widest eyes)
Peace and quiet (I'll say never say never)
The sweet (you don your widest eyes)
Peace and quiet (this time we'll change the weather)
This time we'll get it right
The Ron Hawkins's song Peace and Quiet is a poignant reflection on the passage of time, the fading of relationships, and the search for inner peace in the midst of chaos. The song uses vivid imagery to convey this message, and the singer is haunted by memories of the past that he cannot shake off. The lyric "Hey there tragic one, I saw your ghost in Kensington" sets the tone for the rest of the song. The "tragic one" is likely a reference to someone the singer knew in the past, who was perhaps suffering from some sadness or trauma. The mention of Kensington, an area in London that has a reputation for being a bohemian and artistic neighborhood, suggests that the person was part of that scene at one point.
The chorus of the song speaks to the contrast between the chaos of the city and the serenity of a quiet street. The singer reflects on how he witnessed the collision of many destinies in the streets of the city, with lovers crashing and echoing under the overpass. He contrasts this with the sweet peace and quiet he found on a deserted street. In the second verse, the lyric "We cursed a dishrag sky, we vowed to change the weather" suggests a desire to change the circumstances of their lives. The repeated refrain of "this time we'll get it right" indicates a hope for redemption, and a belief that things can be improved.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey there tragic one
Addressing a person who has suffered a great loss or misfortune
I saw your ghost in Kensington
Reminiscing about a past memory or encounter
The sly sentry of the alleyway
Describing the mischievous and cautious nature of a person
A wounded soldier from the bad old days
Portraying a person who has endured hardships and struggles in the past
And it took me somewhere
Reflecting on how a past experience has triggered emotions and memories
I haven't been for years and years
Realizing how long it has been since the last encounter or experience
Old appetites like souvenirs
Remembering past desires and wants
I turned around, you disappeared
Feeling a sense of loss or disappointment from a fleeting memory or encounter
Into a street steeped in silence
Entering a quiet and peaceful environment
A sweet peace and quiet
Enjoying the comfort and tranquility of silence
The lights never go down
Describing a busy and vibrant area that is always illuminated
A thousand shooting stars in Chinatown
Using imagery to evoke a sense of liveliness and wonder in a bustling location
Reflected in your eyes electric-blue
Describing the color of a person's eyes while admiring their appearance
A kiss lingers like a deja-vu
Remembering a kiss that felt familiar or reminiscent of a past experience
But all the lovers crash
Portraying the struggles and failures that come with relationships
And echo under the overpass
Using sound imagery to emphasize the impact of these struggles
They lie pinned beneath their memories
Revealing how the past can weigh heavily on relationships
A million colliding destinies
Portraying the complexity of relationships and how they intersect
Stain the street, pierce the silence
Suggesting that the memories and struggles leave a lasting impact on the environment
The sweet peace and quiet
Recognizing the contrast between the chaos of love and the calmness of silence
We cursed a dishrag sky
Expressing discontent towards the weather
We vowed to change the weather
Making a promise to improve the current situation
You donned your widest eyes
Describing a person's facial expression of surprise or disbelief
I said never say never
Asserting that anything is possible and that one should not give up hope
And even though we lied
Admitting that the promise made earlier may not have been realistic
We swore we'd stay this way forever
Making a commitment to maintain the current dynamic or relationship
Is it funny how
Asking a rhetorical question about the ironic or unexpected nature of life
You seem just like a rumour now?
Expressing surprise at how a person who was once important has become distant
A conversation that I overheard
Recalling a random or accidental encounter with the person from earlier
The frail echo of a foreign word
Describing the person's voice as distant and unfamiliar
Is it funny or sad?
Wondering if the situation is ironic or depressing
Sometimes we just walk away
Acknowledging that people often leave situations or relationships without explanation
No bittersweet remembrance day
Suggesting that the memories associated with the relationship are not significant or emotional
Why do you think that we do that?
Asking a rhetorical question to ponder why people leave situations in silence
To defeat peace and quiet?
Proposing that the decision to leave is an attempt to disrupt the calmness of life
To cheat peace and quiet?
Suggesting that the decision to leave is a form of deception or betrayal
The sweet (you don your widest eyes)
Recalling a past moment of surprise or wonder
Peace and quiet (I'll say never say never)
Reaffirming the belief in hope and possibility
The sweet (you don your widest eyes)
Recalling a past moment of surprise or wonder
Peace and quiet (this time we'll change the weather)
Expressing a desire to improve the current situation or relationship
This time we'll get it right
Asserting that the next attempt will be successful
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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